Method of assembling slider with a profiled strip separable fastener

ABSTRACT

A method of assembling slide or slider for fasteners of satchels formed of complementary profiled fastener strips and comprising a small plate having two convergent lateral walls and a central partition therebetween; the said slide is made of a sufficiently flexible material so as to be engageable by resilient deformation by the upper edge of the strips, perpendicularly to their longitudinal direction. the lower faces of said flanges being inclined toward the opening provided between those walls, so as to facilitate this engagement.

Jan. 30, 1973 L. K. LAGUERRE 3,713,923

METHOD OF ASSEMBLING SLIDER WITH A PROFILED STRIP SEPARABLE FASTENER Origlnal Filed Feb. 26, 1968 i i i RRNNN-im.

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HIS HTWRUE V 3,713,923 METHOD OF ASSEMBLING SLIDER WITH A PROFILED STRIP SEPARABLE FASTENER Leon Ker Laguerre, Boulogne-sur-Seine, France, assignor to Minigrip 'Inc., Orangeburg, N.Y.

Original application Feb. 26, 1968, Ser. No. 708,142,

now Patent No. 3,426,396. Divided and this application Oct. 23, 1968, Ser. No. 770,023

Int. Cl. A41h 37/00 US. Cl. 156-66 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method of assembling slide or slider for fasteners of satchels formed of complementary profiled fastener strips and comprising a small plate having two convergent lateral walls and a central partition therebetween; the said slide is made of a sufficiently flexible material so as to be engageable by resilient deformation by the upper edge of the strips, perpendicularly to their longitudinal direction, the lower faces of said flanges being inclined toward the opening provided between those walls, so as to facilitate this engagement.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 708,142, filed Feb. 26, 1968, now Pat. No. 3,426,396.

The present invention relates to a method of assembling a slide or slider for the fasteners of satchels, bags or shopping or tool bags of the type formed by two flexible strips having complementary ribs and interlocking by resilient deformation under the action of a slide formed by a small plate having two convergent lateral walls and, in the widest part of the space confined by the said walls, a central partition forming a spacing element for the strips for opening them. The lower edges of the lateral walls and possibly the central partition of the slide are generally provided with flanges engaging over shoulders provided on the profiled strips for preventing the slide from being detached from the fastener and for guiding it during its sliding on the fastener.

A process is also known for the continuous manufacture of satchels provided with a fastener of the kind in which the fastener strips are placed between the edges of a folded sheet of thin plastics material intended to form the satchel, the whole being guided between the electrodes of a welding machine, which elfects intermittent welding of the said strips to the edges of the sheet, each time on a length corresponding to the width of a bag, whereupon the folded sheet with the fastener welded to its edges is subjected at regular intervals to transverse welding and cutting operations for forming the lateral edges of the satchels. To be able to engage a slide on the said fastener strips thus fixed to the edges of the satchel, it is necessary to arrest the transverse welds below the lower edge of the profiled strips, or to reopen th'ese extremities, then to engage the slide by one end of these profiled strips and to secure the ends of the two strips either by means of a second welding operation, or more generally by means of staples, which increases the time necessar for the manufacture of the satchels.

The present invention relates to a slide, whereby this supplementary operation may be obviated; it relates more particularly, although not exclusively, to a slide sliding astride the fastener formed by the two profiled strips, that is to say, the plate of the slide is perpendicular to the central plane of the fastener. This slide is characterised in that it is made of a sufliciently flexible material, preferably of moulded plastics material, so as to be engaged by resilient deformation by the upper edge of the fastener United States Patent strips, perpendicularly to their longitudinal direction, the lower faces of the said flanges or noses being preferably inclined towards the openings provided between these walls, so as to facilitate this engagement.

The invention also relates to a process and device for the fitting of the slides on the fasteners during continuous manufacture of the satchels.

By way of example, several embodiments of the slide according to the invention and also the device for the fitting of the slides are described and shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show in perspective a first embodiment of the slide, viewed respectively from its two opposite ends.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show in cross-section respectively on III-HI and IV-IV of FIG. 1 the slide engaged on the fastener strips.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show in perspective two other embodiments of the slide viewed from the widest end of the latter.

FIG. 7 represents in horizontal section the device for fitting the slides in the course of manufacture of the satchels.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are cross-sections respectively on VH1- VIII and IXIX of FIG. 7.

The slide or slider shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and which is intended to slide astride the separable fastener of substantial length formed by profiled resiliently deflectable complementary interlocking plastic strips 1, 1 (FIGS. 3 and 4) is of generally U-shape and includes a small plate 2, resting on the upper edge of the profiled strips, and carrying two spaced apart lateral divergent walls 3, 3, as well as a central partition 4 extending over part of the length of the slide, and the purpose of which is to space the strips apart, causing them to open when the slide is moved in the direction of the arrow f, while movement in the direction of the arrow produces reclamping of the strips in the narrow part of the slide and their interlocking by resilient deformation. As shown, the fastener strips have at least one complementary rib and groove for interlocking them. To prevent the slide from leaving the fastener by transverse separation and to ensure satisfactory guiding during its sliding, the lower edges of the lateral walls 3, 3' and possibly the central finger or partition 4 generally have inwardly projecting shoulder structure in the form of flanges or noses engaging over shoulders 5, 5' or 6, 6' of the strips 1, 1, which during assemblage necessitates engaging the slide from one end, kept open, of the satchel.

According to the invention, the slide is made of a material which is sufficiently flexible, preferably of moulded plastics material, to be engaged by resilient deformation no longer longitudinally by one end of the fastener, but transversely in the direction of the arrow F of FIGS. 3 and 4, in addition, to facilitate this engagement by resilient spaclng apart of the lateral walls 3, 3 of the slide, the flanges or noses provided on these walls and/or on the central partition have their lower faces inclined towards the interior of recesses 7, 7 provided between the central partition 4 and the lateral walls 3, 3' for facilitating entry of the strips 1, 1' in the said recesses. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the central partition 4 has at the widest end of the slide a projecting rib 8 (FIGS. 1 to 4) carrying on its lower edge a double nose of triangular section 9 having two upper faces 10, 10 perpendicular to the partition 4 and engaging under the shoulders 6, 6' of the strips 1, 1', and two inclined lower faces 11, 11', while at the narrow end of the slide, the lateral walls, have two projecting ribs 12, 12', the lower edges of which (FIGS. 2 and 3) have single triangular noses 13, 13, engaging under the shoulders 5, 5 of the strips 1, 1'. On the contrary, throughout their length, the lower edges of the lateral walls 3, 3' are chamfered to facilitate their engagement on the fastener 1, 1'.

Location of hooking and guiding noses outside the actual slide, on ribs projecting at its ends, offers considerable facilities for the moulding of the slides.

It should be noted that the nose 9 of the central partition and the noses 13, 13 of the lateral walls are not necessarily provided on the lower edges of these walls; they may in fact be provided by forming projecting ribs 21, 21' and 23, 23' at any height on the inner faces of the lateral walls and on the two faces of the central partition according to the height and form of the profiled fastener strips 1, 1', as indicated in dotted lines in FIGS. 1 and 2.

It should be noted also that the upper face of the hooking and guiding noses is not necessarily perpendicular to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the slide; in particular, these faces may be included inwardly and upwardly, which in certain cases may ensure better support of the strips, or they may have on their free edge an upwardly projecting flange engaging in a longitudinal groove provided for this purpose on the shoulders 6, 6' of the profiled strips.

According to the modification shown in FIG. 5, three noses 9 9' and 13 13, are all arranged at the widest end of the slide, while according to the modification shown in FIG. 6 and intended to cooperate with a fastener, the strips of which have an unsymmetrical profile in cross-section, a nose 13 is provided on only one of the lateral walls 3 and a double triangular nose 9 on the central partition 4. In this case, noses could also be provided on both lateral walls and a single nose on the central partition. Instead of comprising a nose, the central partition may have a tapered inner edge.

As mentioned above, the invention also concerns a process of fitting the slides, which consists in fixing these slides on the fastener strips during continuous manufacture of satchels on the passage of the folded plastics material sheet provided with welded-on profile strips, preferably between the longitudinal welding electrodes ensuring fixing of the fastener strips to the folded sheet, and the transverse cutting and welding electrode forming the lateral edges of the satchels, this fitting of the slides taking place during the stoppage, in the course of which welding of the satchel takes place, or during operation if the strips are welded continuously to the bag instead of intermittently.

FIGS. 7 to 9 show a device for carrying out this process. The folded sheet provided with fastener strips 1, 1 which are welded to this sheet by means of the electrodes 14, 14, functioning intermittently on each advance of the sheet by a length equal to the width of the satchel, passes on either side of a spacing element 15, preferably having an elongated and rounded form, causing opening of the strips previously welded to the sheet by the electrodes 14, 14 in the closed position. Arranged on either side of the spacer 15 are guiding elements 16, 16' formed for example of channel sections (FIG. 8) facing each other and forming passages in which the strips 1, 1' are guided without being gripped. However, in certain cases, locking of this device at the moment of fitting the slide may be provided.

Furth'ermore, in the case where the strips are welded to the sheet forming the satchel without being interlocked, as shown in the drawing, on leaving the electrodes 14, 14', the device 15, 16 will merely have to act as guide, and the shape of the parts 15, 16, 16' may be slightly modified in consequence, since the part 15 will no longer have to act as spacer.

Following the spacing and guiding device 15, 16, 16' and at a short distance from the latter are two movable clamping and guiding parts 17, 17, also of channel section for example, forming a recess in which the two strips 1, 1 are clamped in the closed position and are prevented, possibly by suitable locking means, from dis- 4 placement during the engagement of the slide, which despite its resilient deformation, may exert a considerable force on them.

The slides 2 are engaged on the fastener between the spacer 15 and the clamping device 17, 17 either manually or preferably by means of an automatic device, comprising a charger 18, shown in dotted lines and provided with a pusher engaging the successive slides on the fastener 1, 1' firmly held between the guiding and clamping device. As will be apparent from at least FIGS. 3 and 7, the inwardly projecting shoulder structure on the wall or walls of the slider are moved past the fastener strips, as by a camming sliding action, across the respective back of the strip in each instance associated with the slider wall, until at the completion of assembly interengagement of the shoulder structure with the shoulder means of the strip is effected. During assembly, the finger 4, 4 on the wider end of the slider is inserted between the spaced apart portions of the fastener strips while the narrower opposite end of the slider engages the held-together interlocked portion of the fastener. The clamping pieces 17, 17' open intermittently to permit the folded sheet provided with fastener strips and slide to advance intermittently towards the transverse welding and cutting electrode 19, 20 from which the point of attachment of the sliders to the fastener is upstream having regard to the manufacturing path along which the sheet and fastener move. This movement of the clamping pieces 17, 17, as well as that of the pusher of the loader may be synchronised with the control of the electrodes 14, 14. Closure of the clamping pieces 17, 17' may also take place immediately after the passage of the slide, so as to re-close the profiled fastener immediately after the slide and ensure register of the two profiled strips at the crossing of the transverse welding, any blocking of these parts taking place only at the moment of the introduction of the slide, as for the guide pieces 16, 16'. Furthermore, if fitting of the slides is to be effected during operation, without intermittent stoppage of the strips for carrying out welding of the said strips to the sheet of plastics material forming the satchels, the parts 17, 17 will not be blocked and will ensure just sufiicient clamping for guiding and supporting the profiled strips 1, 1' during the engagement of the slide without impeding their continuous advance movement.

Obviously the method and the device described above may be utilized for securing rigid or semi-rigid slides of the same shape which will be engaged onto the profiled strips under elastic deformation of said strips or both strips and slide.

What I claim is:

1. The method of assembly of a U-shaped straddling slider with a pair of flexible fastener strips having releasably interlocking profiles wherein the slider has a back with spaced apart lateral walls supported thereon and the walls are closely spaced at a closing end of the slider and wider spaced at an opening end of the slider with a separating finger between the walls at the opening end, the method comprising,

placing the strips in alignment so that they can be joined,

locating the slider above the strips for assembly on the strips,

pressing the strips together so that the profiles are interlocked at a location adjacent to the closing end of the slider,

holding the strips apart with the profiles separated at another location adjacent to the opening end of the slider,

assembling the slider in a direction transversely of the extent of the strips by pressing the finger between the strips and pressing the walls edgewise over the strips, said slider walls and strips relatively yielding as the slider is pressed into place.

2. The method of assembly of a U-shaped straddling slider with a pair of flexible fastener strips having releasably interlocking profiles wherein the slider has a back with spaced apart lateral walls supported thereon and the walls are closely spaced at a closing end of the slider and wider spaced at an opening end of the slider with a separating finger between the walls at the opening end, at least one of the slider lateral walls having a shoulder projection which is engageable under a shoulder provided on the fastener strip, the combination comprising,

placing the strips in alignment so that they can be joined,

locating the slider above the strips for assembly on the strips,

pressing the strips together so that the profiles are interlocked at a location adjacent to the closing end of the slider,

holding the strips apart with the profiles separated at another location adjacent to the opening end of the slider,

assembling the slider in a direction transversely of the extent of the strips by pressing the finger between the strips and pressing the walls edgewise over the strips,

said slider walls and strips relatively yielding as the slider is pressed into place, said slider moved edgewise a sufiicient distance so that said shoulder projection engages under the shoulder of the closure strip.

3. The method of assembly of a U-shaped straddling slider with a pair of flexible fastener strips having releasably interlocking profiles wherein the slider has a back with spaced apart lateral wallsv supported thereon and the walls are closely spaced at a closing end of the slider and wider spaced at an opening end of the slider with a separating finger between the walls at the opening end, the slider being constructed of resilient material, the combination comprising,

placing the strips in alignment so that they can be joined,

locating the slider above the strips for assembly on the strips,

pressing the strips together so that the profiles are interlocked at a location adjacent to the closing end of the slider,

holding the strips apart with the profiles separated at another location adjacent to the opening end of the slider,

assembling the slider in a direction transversely of the extent of the strips by pressing the finger between the 6 strips and pressing the walls edgewise over the strips, the walls of resilient slider yielding outwardly relative to the fastener strips as the slider is pressed into place.

4. The method of assembly of a U-shaped straddling slider with a pair of flexible fastener strips in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of said lateral walls of the slider deforms outwardly relative to the slider back during the movement of the slider onto the strips.

5. The method of assembly of a U-shaped straddling slider with a pair of flexible fastener strips in accordance with claim 1 wherein the slider is pressed over the strips until the slider back engages the edges of the strips.

6. The method of assembly of a U-shaped straddling slider with a pair of flexible fastener strips in accordance with claim 1 wherein the finger has interengaging shoulder structure at its end and the slider is pressed onto the strips until the finger shoulder structure engages beneath the profiles on the strips.

7. The method of assembly of a U-shaped straddling slider with a pair of flexible fastener strips in accordance with claim 1 wherein the fastener strips are located on the edges of a folded sheet for constituting the side walls of bags and including dividing the sheet and closure strips into separate bags by cross-welding and thereafter applying a slider to each bag.

8. The method of assembly of a U-shaped straddling slider with a pair of flexible fastener strips in accordance with claim 7 wherein the sliders are placed on the strips with the cross-welding operation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,577,674 12/1951 Broughton 156-66 2,613,421 10/1952 Madsen 15666 2,665,467 1/1954 Bosomworth et a1. 156-66 2,711,779 6/1955 Carland 156290 XR 3,063,890 11/1962 Saumsiegle l56306 3,045,310 7/1962 Velinsky 24-205.15 3,103,049 9/1963 Hawley 24205.15 X 3,328,220 6/1967 Harding 264-252 X 3,416,199 12/1968 Imamura 2420l CARL D. QUARFORTH, Primary Examiner P. A. NELSON, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

